Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-09
SINGULAR ACCIDENT.
Three Persons Killed by Falling
from the Elevated Railroad.

New YORK. March S.--A fire occurred
at 5 o'clock this morning in the store oil
Nieoll, the tailor, in the Bowery. Be
fore the fire was extinguished it caused
loss of between $50, 600 and 800, 600.
Trains on the elevated road were block
ed by the flames. The blockade oc-
CURED oil the way down 10 South ferry
and on down the track up to Seven
teenth street. A number of passengers
left one Of the trains at Seventeenth
street and started to walk along the mar
row foot-path at the side OF the track
TO the station at Fourteenth street.
While doing so the blockade was re-
lieved and the trains began to start.
Their motion snook the pathway to
such an extent that number OF pas
sengers were thrown down to the street.
Three of these were instantly killed
and seven others badly injured.
CAUSE OF THE CASUALTY.
Soon after the fire occurred the down
track was blocked with trains from Ninth
to Fiity-second street. All the trains
were crowded with people. Along the
side track is platform p feet wide,
used by the trackmen. Above Four
teenth street it is not provided with n
hand-rail. One of the passengers,
named Patrick Matthews, on the train
which was blockaded between the sta
tions. grew impatient of waiting and
opened gate ON the car platform,
stepped down to the platform beside
the track, and started to walk TO
Fourteenth street. He was followed
by many others until there was
a continuous line Of men in single file
in close order on this platform, headed
by Matthews. When Matthews had
nearly reached Fourteenth street the
blockade was broken, and the trains
started up one after another. The
shaking of the track and noise and rush
of the cars apparently frightened Mat.
thews, because he turned and dashed
for the car platform. The mau next
behind did the same, but Matthew's 3
hold apparently broke, and he toppled
lack upon the man behind him. Both
fell backward into the street. The
commotion on the platform created
by this occurrence frightened
and demoralized the others close
to them. Some came in collision
and fell, while others, in panic,
jumped from the platform TO the street
below. and still others hurriedly scrlm-
bled upon passing cars. The shouts
and screams outside communicated a
panic TO the passengers inside the cars,
and lnany women tainted. The trains
were stopped, end everybody remain
ing on the platform was taken on board
the cars. Ten men fell or leaped to
the street, about twenty feet below. and
struck upon the surface-car track or
the stone pavement. -Four were killed
outright, their skulls being crushed i'll
each instance. The other six were Sc
riously hurt. One has since died in the
hospital, and another is reported dying.
II is supposed several others made the
leap, but were not so seriously hurt but
that they could take care OF themselves.
The fire, which was the primary cause
of the accident, burned out Nicoll's
tailoring establishment and a couple OF
small houses adjoining, causing n los
Of $1,000 Matthews was one OF the
men killed. All were clerks or laboring
men who were belated on their way to
businCss.